Couple approved for adoption left in limbo: 'We feel forgotten by the system'

37 Danish families were on a waiting list when the mediator of international adoptions, DIA, put an end to all adoptions from abroad.

The couple Sanne and Morten Kjær Tornøe from Randers have been approved for adoption since January last year. They got on the waiting list to receive a child from Taiwan in August.

It was not many days ago that they were last in contact with the organization Danish International Adoption (DIA), which is the only organization in Denmark that mediates international adoptions.

At that time, the couple was assured that there was no danger that the DIA would stop their adoptions to Denmark.

Therefore, they also do not understand Tuesday's announcement about a stop to foreign adoptions, and they are both shocked and frustrated.

- We feel forgotten by the system. It is not for fun that we have chosen to adopt. So it is really frustrating that DIA has announced the news of the stop without any plan for what will happen now, says Morten Kjær Tornøe.

The family is just one of a total of 37 families on the adoption waiting list who have not yet been told how to deal with the announcement.

Danish International Adoption (DIA)

The adoption agency Danish International Adoption (DIA) is the only Danish mediation organization for international adoptions.

If you want to adopt a child from abroad, this can only be done through DIA.

DIA is an independent, self-owned institution accredited by the Ministry of Social Affairs, Housing and the Elderly. The framework for DIA's work is regulated through a series of accreditation conditions between DIA and the Danish Appeals Board.

DIA was created through a merger in January 2015 of the two former adoption agencies Danadopt and AC Børnehjælp.

Source: DIA's website.

DIA's board made the decision to completely stop the mediation of adoptions from abroad, after the Ministry of Social Affairs, Housing and the Elderly has informed the organization that adoptions from the Philippines, India, Taiwan, Thailand and the Czech Republic will be suspended for a period of time.

These were the last five countries from which DIA still brokered adoptions. Last year, 11 of the adoptions were from South Africa, four were from Thailand and two were from Taiwan.

The couple understands that the authorities must ensure that an adoption process proceeds legally and responsibly, but they are surprised by today's absolute announcement.

- We were so close to the finish line, but suddenly it is no longer there. So now it feels as if no matter how fast we run, we will never reach the finish line, he explains.

The latest announcement is that the Danish Appeals Board will take over the work from DIA.

Yesterday, Minister of Social Affairs and Housing Pernille Rosenkrantz-Theil (S) announced to DR Nyheder that the families on the waiting list will be informed within a few hours or days about what the further process will be.

- They want to call us, but about what? It is very frustrating. I don't know what to say about it, says Morten Kjær Tornøe.